Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 Source: Omaha World-Herald (NE) Copyright: 2014 Omaha World-Herald Company Contact: http://www.omaha.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/320 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n032/a05.html Author: Stan White ONLY LEGALIZING POT WILL STOP THE PROBLEMS Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. scored lots of points in examining the legalization of marijuana (Jan. 10 World-Herald). However, decriminalization still amounts to caging or punishing responsible adults. Cannabis prohibition produces underground markets, cartels, increased hard-drug addiction, contempt for drug laws, erosion of constitutional rights, loss of freedom, escalated prison populations, corrupt politicians, racial discrimination, American farmers prohibited from growing hemp (even though communist Chinese farmers grow it) and trillions of dollars in wasted tax revenue. Decriminalization doesn't end any of this. The sooner America re-legalizes cannabis, the sooner the sky will stop falling in. Stan White, Dillon, Colo. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom